spiritual musings

2009-07-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Renovare notes cont'd - Servanthood

2009-07-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

"'Servant' surprises us because it is so incongruent with the way itself, the way of salvation, a 'highway for our God.' The 'way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert' is a glorious affair, extravagantly glorious. But the agents God chooses to carry out this glorious work are inglorious servants." Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way

Servanthood: Isaiah in the Exile and The Jesus Way - Dallas Willard

Notes:

Servanthood leads us to forgiveness and mercy.
We turn our kingdom over to God's kingdom
The cross casts us off from the burden of self control.
You can only serve out of abundance not out of scarcity
In exile we learn the sufficiency of God
Jesus spoke about a grain of wheat that must die to grow. How is our life like a grain of wheat that falls into a ground to bear fruit?
In John's gospel, travelers from Greece asked Philip if they could talk to Jesus. Historically we conclude that they were hoping to invite Jesus onto the speaking circuit traveling around the Empire and spread his teachings. This was consistent with what other philosophers and teachers had done. Jesus' response to them was that he must die. He denies their request.

Notes from Renovare - The Jesus Way

2009-06-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Renovare - The Jesus Way conference in San Antonio. Great stuff. Over the course of the next few blog entries I'll share some of the notes I wrote from the sessions. And away we go...

From Eugene Peterson's message "The Jesus Way: What is it? Why do I care?" (The following are all Peterson's words)

We live in a spiritually thirsty, God curious culture.
The Jesus Way is a Human Way: The easy part, God becomes human in Jesus and doesn't ask us to be divine. Jesus was grounded in his humanity as we are and that makes it easy for us to identify with him. The hard part, when it comes down to it, I think I would rather be like God than have God be like me. The Serpent's promise to "be like God" is still pretty attractive. However, God fantasies leave us less human.
The Jesus Way is a Conversational Way: The easy part, Jesus speaks in a language that I am already fluent in, an everyday language of personal conversation that makes me a speech partner with the Word made flesh. We are drawn into a conversation with God. The hard part, it is a lot easier to use language impersonally and functionally. Personal engagement requires something beyond information and explanation.
The Jesus Way is an Ordinary Way: The easy part, this is an ordinary, well worn path that millions have walked. I don't have to be a super-athlete, a mountain climber. I can do this. It is a "feet on the ground" way. The hard part, "ordinary" is boring. I'd like something that gives me an edge on the common humdrum of life. A little excitement and the spice of entertainment.

Perfect churches are like perfect families, or a bit like the Blue Ridge Mountains. They only look blue from 50 miles away, but when you get up close...

What if Starbucks marketed like a church?

2009-06-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Shared power

2009-06-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

"I've got the power."

That's what my VBS shirt says. Right there on the left side of my chest, white letters on a fluorescent green.

that But...before I get a big head, and begin to build my kingdom...I look around and acknowledge all of our VBS shirts say the same thing. They all say, "I've got the power." Ok. Now I'm confused. Who has the power? We all do.

God's design for the church is for us to share power, God's power, and use that power to love and serve each other.

We don't insist on our own way, boast, keep records of wrongs, delight in evil, or fly off the handle. Instead we humbly share power through kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness (1 Corinthians 13).

It's not simply that the pastor(s), a group of leaders, a single leader, a long time member, or the most vocal, or most influential who hold power. That's not the way God's designed the church.

The Spirit in all its fullness comes to each one of us in baptism. God breathes on all of us equally.

Who's in charge?

While we share the power, we must recognize the source of our power is Jesus Christ. Before his ascension Jesus said to the disciples, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples..." (Matthew 28:18) Jesus, who holds power over us, commands us to go. We go and advance God's kingdom with boldness and graciousness.

Remember, we're all in this together.

Mike

Advice or direction?

2009-06-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

When praying, do you find yourself asking more for God's advice on a subject or situation? Do you ever find yourself saying, "I really should get God's opinion on this situation?"

I've done it and at times I still do, and I don't think it's right.

Behind asking for God's advice is a belief that I'm really in control and ultimately responsible. I make things happen, and I'm just a bit confused. If God could just dispense a bit of help I'd be better off. If I pray a little prayer at the beginning of a meeting or as I face a decision I'll be better off.

And then I was reminded yesterday of Jesus' words, "...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19)

Jesus then tells us, "Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me...Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:4,5)

We're not simply to ask for advice, we're to humble ourselves before God consistently as a way of living. We acknowledge that we absolutely, positively need God...we need advice, yes, but what we need more is God. We need his completeness and his presence to move through us and in spite of us. What if we approached prayer with that type of attitude?

Prayer requests or demands

2009-06-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

How many times have you entered prayer with a list of demands instead of a list of requests for God? Too many times for me. What's the difference between asking/praying with boldness and confidence and demanding that God deliver?

If we approach God like a vending machine dispensing blessing on demand, then we'll treat God with disrespect.

But, if we approach God in humility and honesty, asking God for what we hope and desire and leaving it in God's hands to work his purpose out, then we'll have the proper perspective. It's like Jesus praying in the garden of gethsemane. He didn't want to die a painful, agnonizing death...that was his desire, but he tempered it saying, "Not my will but yours be done."

Bottom line: Prayer emerges and is evidence of a relationship. I don't have a relationship with a vending machine. I have a relationship with God who desires to have a two way communication between himself and his people.

He's everywhere

2009-05-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Everywhere we turn God is.

David writes in Psalm 139, "You know when I sit and when I rise...Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?"

God is everywhere. Graciously. Powerfully. Silently.

Even in a cheeto?

All the cool kids...

2009-05-11T11:45:00.001-07:00

Are you going to be there Saturday?

Everyone's who is anyone is going to be there.

It's the happening thing.

Nope. Not an Ohio State football game (it's the offseason).

Not a concert.

Not a party...

The Blessed are the Peacemakers seminar, Saturday at 9am at All Saints.

I hope to see you there.

Mike

Nine times

2009-05-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

Know how many times we as All Saints stuffed the LSS Food Pantry truck during Lent? Nine times. Great job All Saints!

A holy kiss

2009-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

Is this a picture of people leaving a church or people leaving a public building like a school?

Most likely it's the latter, but I think it illustrates sometimes what happens in congregations if we're not careful. Out of fear, resentment, or bitterness we can become unwilling to talk and interact with certain people.

Paul encourages us to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (2 Corinthians 13:12). We can't do so with masks on our faces...or invisible barriers between us. Holy kiss is figurative...it indicates a willingness to engage and bless instead of distance and curse those within the community of Christ.

Take the masks off. Attend the Ambassadors for Reconcilliation Peacemaker seminar at All Saints on May 16 from 9-3:30pm. Lunch is provided and it's free.

Together with you in Christ,
Mike

Pandemic and peacemakers

2009-04-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

The world is holding its breath waiting to see if the swine flu becomes a pandemic. All of us are hoping for the best. The latest...

-Deaths: 149, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. 1,995 people have been hospitalized with pneumonia but government does not yet know how many were swine flu.

-Sickened: Forty confirmed in U.S., 28 at one New York City school. Elsewhere, 6 confirmed in Canada; 13 suspected in New Zealand; 1 confirmed and 17 suspected in Spain; 1 suspected in France; 1 suspected in Israel.

-Confirmed cases in U.S.: 28 in New York, 7 in California, 2 in Kansas, 2 in Texas and 1 in Ohio.

We pray for God's healing for those who suffer, comfort for those who mourn, and intervention that it doesn't get worse.

This isn't anything new. Since the beginning of time humanity has faced threats of various pandemics, not all physical. Some are emotional like unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, self pity, and blame. They sicken and destroy relationships. How many lives have been destroyed by such sickness? How many marriages and families have been broken apart? And, we pass the sickness on from one person to another, to friends, and even to our children.

It doesn't have to be this way. God provides a way by showing us love and being the source of love and forgiveness. As John writes, "We love because he first loved us." As we love, we embrace God's call to each of us to be peacemakers.

Build your and your families immunity to emotional pandemic that wreaks havoc in our lives by attending the Blessed Are the Peacemakers seminar on May 16 at All Saints. Details are on the All Saints website, www.saintsonhigh.org Hope to see you there.

I know how you feel

2009-01-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

With 16 seconds left in the game, Texas scores to beat Ohio State in last night's Fiesta Bowl. Ouch. Buckeye nation, I know how you feel.

As a Browns fan, we've had victory snatched from our grasp lots of times. Mention Red Right 88, the fumble, the drive or even John Elway's name to any Browns fan and you're bound to get a sigh of resignation. In the last seconds of three playoff games, the Browns found a way to lose. Last night's drive by the Colt McCoy led offense was reminiscent of Elway's leadership of the Broncos offense when they drove down 98 yards to score sending the 1986 playoff game versus the Browns into overtime.

I know. I know. It doesn't help when people say, "At least the game was competative and well played." Those words are little consolation and barely touch the sting of the loss.

Browns Backers everywhere weep with you. We heed Paul's words from his letter to the church in Corinth, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Take heart. There's always next year.

Slumdog Millionaire

2008-12-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

Today I spent a couple hours of my life watching a great movie, Slumdog Millionaire. Intense and inspiring are two words that I would describe this movie. I highly recommend it. It is a bit like riding a roller coaster of emotion though, so be prepared. The R designation is one to heed, not because of language, violence, or sexual content. It's simply pretty intense. You can see a trailer of the movie at:

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/

It got me thinking a lot about the Christmas story. Wondering about the birth of Jesus, born in a barn, to ordinary, economically poor parents. He may well have been considered a slumdog by the Romans. Who would have thought Jesus would have grown up to be the influence he was to the entire world? It was his destiny. Jesus, Lord at his birth, had an inheritance that surpassed any wealth we can dream of. His destiny was to grow up to be a man and then share that 'wealth' with all of us. In his face we see tangible evidence of God's heart and grace.

Hope you take time to see the movie. The story in itself is gripping, but when you consider how it is a metaphor for the life of Jesus Christ, it's powerful.

For those who are anxious...

2008-11-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

During these difficult economic times, may you find strength and peace in our Lord. He says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

If you struggle to find words to pray during this time, feel free to use the following:

Almighty and merciful God, our only source of health and healing, who alone can bring calmness and peace: Grant to us your children, a consciousness of your presence and a strong confidence in you. In our pain, our weariness, and our anxiety, surround us with your care, protect us by your loving might, and permit us once more to enjoy health and strength and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2008-11-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

Grant me, O Lord,
to know what I ought to know,
to love what I ought to love,
to praise what delights you most,
to value what is precious in your sight,
to hate what is offensive to you.
Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my eyes,
nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men;
but to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
and above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of your will.

--Thomas a Kempis

Religulous

2008-10-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I saw the movie Religulous. Jeffrey Lions of NBC calls it, "Outrageous! Nothing short of brilliant!" Funny? At times, yes. Bill Maher is a funny guy. Entertaining? Yes. A clear message? Yes. Brilliant? No. That implies that it is intelligent. It isn't intelligent in my estimation. Maher does a points out the flaws within Christianity, Islam, Mormanism, Scientology, and one small sect of Judaism.

As a Christian, I agree with Maher that sometimes Christians bring the ridicule upon ourselves, not for being Christ like, but for just being odd, cheesy, and unable to articulate what we believe and why we believe it without pat Sunday School answers and religious platitudes. I get it and I agree. Some of my Christian brothers and sisters embarrass me (as I may do to them). I compare them to an odd uncle in a family. I might be embarrassed by him and not want to be around him, but they are still family and I'm still called to care for him.

I left the movie, however, very hurt and frustrated. Part of my frustration is that Maher makes very big assertions and conclusions about religion, mostly about Christians, with no ability to debate. That's not brilliant, that's manipulative. He also interviews a number of fringe people within Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Mormanism instead of interviewing theologians, thinkers, and others. Brilliant? No. Sensational? Yes.

There is another side to the story. I was hurt by a some of the assertions and claims the movie makes. Below I will share the movie's assertion in bold italics, and then make a counter argument to it. I'm only asking you, as your read, to consider the other side of the argument:

All religion is bad and therefore must be "killed." At the end of the movie Maher says, "All religion must die" because after all, it is the source of all the problems in the world. Is it? Is that a brilliant thing to say? For Maher to say that religion is the problem in the world is like saying El Nino is the cause for every weather phenomenon we face daily. Wow. Wars are caused by religion? What about all of the governments and irreligious leaders who have murdered their own citizens and surpressed religious expression? Mao in China, Stalin in Russia, and Hitler in Germany all exterminated a large, large number of innocent people...and they are not people of faith or religious. What are the origins of many hospitals, orphanages, homeless shelters, etc. around the world? Many began by people of faith who cared about the poor, the sick, the homeless, the orphan in their communities. Many hospitals today, started by people of faith, still serve their communities. And, what is the second largest social service agency in the United States? Lutheran Social Services of America. Catholic Services is close behind. Religion being the source of problems? Give me a break.
People with faith are crazy. Maher at one point interviews very briefly a scientist who has done brain scans on people of faith...and they said that people of faith are crazy. There was not a in depth discussion of the scientist's findings, a picture of brain scans, nor any in depth discussion of this one scientist's findings. Nope...only the conclusion, with a chuckle, "they are crazy." Excuse me? Is that brilliant movie making? Making a broad assertion about a group of people with no basis except one scientist's opinion. Hmmm. The Nazis called the Jews rats and blamed the problems Germany faced on the Jewish people. Hitler and his bunch made the American people, through visual media and marketing, believe that Jews were less human than pure Germans...and thus must be eradicated.
People of faith are childish. Faith in God is the same as belief in Santa Claus. At the end of the movie Maher proclaims, "Grow up..." to people of faith. Last time I checked Santa Claus is a fable, Jesus is historical and what I've experienced with my relationship with God is very real. Unexplainable at times? Yes. But I'm a grown, rational man who has investigated Christian claims historically, theologically, socially...and I find them quite verifiable.
Christians are irrational. Rational people would never believe this. This is quite an old argument and one leveled at one of my professors from Miami University. I know a number of very intelligent, rational, and mature people who affirm faith in God, and in particular Jesus Christ.
Jesus never lived. It's not historical. Maher speaks with one scientist who confesses to be a Christian about this assertion. Maher says that the gospels don't prove he existed. True. But, there are sources outside Christianity that name Jesus of Nazareth as an historical person, such as the 1st Century Jewish historian Josephus. Even if we only have one reference of Jesus of Nazareth outside the gospels, wouldn't that suffice? For example, I have no proof that my great, great, great grandfather Cook lived, except that he's named on a census. One instance, and yet I believe he existed. For Jesus, we have the testimony of many, many people who wrote the gospels. Certainly they don't all agree, but the reality that they are all there says something about the sigificance of Jesus. Why were they written in the first place? Politics? Justice? To get back at the Romans? The gospels were written by common people in the 1st century not to prove Jesus's existence, but to share his message and impact on their lives. The assumption underneath the gospels is that Jesus is an historical person.
The Bible isn't reliable. Maher points out that Jonah couldn't have been swallowed by a big fish. Creation couldn't have happened they way it did, the virgin birth isn't there (it is in the Scriptures), and so on. Therefore, since there are fictional stories within the Bible, the entire Bible must be thrown out because it has no credibility. Today, on the news I heard that in Florida they found a ballot cast for the 2008 election for president under the name Mickey Mouse. Throw the entire election out! The entire lot of early ballots cast are invalid because one ballot is fictional! No. On the contrary. What Maher failed to point out is the reality that the Bible is a combination of various genres of writing: poetry, stories, songs, law, teachings, history, etc. It's diversity is important when considering its credibility and reliablity. There are historical, archeologically verified facts in the Bible.

As Maher spoke with the actor who plays Jesus at Bibleland in Florida, he is taken offended when the actors says that he has a God-shaped hole in his life. "That's judgmental isn't it?" Maher retorts. But, isn't it as judgmental for Maher to call people of faith "crazy"?

Tolerance and open mindedness are two values that many Americans hold. And yet this movie is very intolerant to religious people and not open minded at all. To assert there is no God, that it is fiction not fact, is pretty much closing your mind of to at least the possibility that there is a god some where. At least Christians investigate Biblical claims (the ones I know who Maher wouldn't be interested in interviewing probably) and have their minds open to at least the possibility that God exists and Jesus lived.

If Maher truly wants to know and is a seeker, as he says at the beginning of the movie, and if you, the reader are in the same boat...truly do seek, investigate, converse, read all you can from all points of view...but please don't demonize people of faith or conclude we're crazy. One book to start that can be classified as smart and brilliant, check out Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton. It is a rational and philisophical look at the claims of Christianity by a man who became a Christian later in life and lived in England in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Impact

2008-09-30T06:32:00.001-07:00

Yesterday during a lecture Dr. Fretheim, professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary pointed out that, "On 9/11 nineteen middle eastern men deeply affected our lives [in a negative way]"

My question is this:

Has the middle eastern man, Jesus of Nazareth through his death and resurrection, and have his disciples (whose writings we have recorded) deeply affected our lives in a positive way?

Poor and needy

2008-09-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, David wrote, "I am poor and needy" (Psalm 86:1) Um, not really David. You're the king so you're not poor. And needy...well, maybe. Poor AND needy? What was he getting at? David lived in depedence on God, displaying a radical trust in God's love for him. Later he writes, "Great is your steadfast love toward me." David was in need of God's grace, of forgiveness, of peace, of assurance, of EVERYTHING. Economically he was rich but poor in other ways. He may not have wanted for anything physical, but stood in great need.

"The moment we acknowledge we are powerless, we enter into the liberating sphere of the risen One and we are freed from anxiety..." --Brennan Manning

Financial Crisis

2008-09-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

America is in quite a debacle with our current financial crisis and many are weighing in with solutions. Currently, politicians in Washington wrangle over government response. We wait.

In the meantime, I was encouraged by Paul and David this morning. David writes in Psalm 86, "Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life...Bring joy to your servant who trusts in you." Could prayer and trust in God through this crisis be a viable solution? Absolutely. We are all poor and needy literally or figuratively. "Every good and gracious gift is from above," James writes. We ask God and wait for divine assistance.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer recorded his morning prayer while suffering in a German prison at the hands of the Nazis. Maybe his prayer will become your prayer during financial stress, potentially captive to creditors and debt:

O God...help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you; I cannot do this alone...Lord Jesus Christ, you were poor and in distres, a captive and forsaken as I am. You know all man's troubles; you abide with me and when all men fail me; you remember and seek me; It is your will that I should know you and turn to you. Lord, I hear your call and follow. Help me...Restore me to liberty, and enable me so to live now that I may answer before you and before men. Lord, whatever this day may bring, your name be praised. Amen.

Paul's encouragement comes from his letter to Timothy, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Tim. 6:17-18)

Pray for and do not be bitter or envious of the wealthy in this crisis. Heed Paul's advice to encourage the rich to be generous. Pray for generosity. And for all of us, rich and poor, Paul encourages us like David did to put our trust in God.

Let trust rule the day.

Emmanuel. God is with us.

Meet my daddy?

2008-09-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after driving into my neighborhood, I saw my son Ethan playing with a few of his friends. I slowed the car to say 'hi' to him and lowered the passenger side window. I stopped the car and Ethan walks over to talk.

"Hi daddy," he says to me (he's five). Then he looks over at his friends (a few I had not met yet...three kids from the neighborhood just a couple years older than him) and says, "Guys! Do you want to meet my dad? He's really nice."

All of the kids look at Ethan with a blank stare. No one says 'no' and no one says 'yes.' There is no response (which in itself is a response, I know).

I waved and said hi from the car and they all said, "Hi" back but that was it.

"Guys, do you want to talk to my dad?" he asks again, and again, no response.

I said, "That's ok...they don't need to talk to me."

Honestly, I felt touched that Ethan wanted his friends to meet me...that he likes me enough to want to tell others about me. The experience also reminds me of evangelism too. As Christians I think our sharing Christ with others lots of times is like Ethan with his friends. We're met with blank stares...and little if no response to our invitation for people to meet God. "Do want to talk to God? He's really nice." Crickets. Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.

But what if the onus wasn't on us asking the question or the response of the person. After all, if I was one of those kids, I'd think Ethan's request was pretty odd too. "No, I don't want to meet your dad. He's an adult and I'm a kid." There's just too big of a boundary to cross. And with people and God, when we expect people to respond favorably to our question, "Do you want to talk to God?" we're fooling ourselves. People may want to talk to God, but there is just too big of a chasm to cross...after all, God is God and we are humans.

The onus for the relationship lands on the one with the power. In my experience with Ethan, as the adult, I could have gotten out of my car, gone over to the kids and introduced myself. The chasm needs to be crossed by the one with the most power. Isn't that the way God does it too? Jesus says, "You did not choose me, I chose you." All of us come to God because God comes to us first. He bridges the gap between us.

Next time you want to introduce others to Christ, know that the responsibility for the relationship isn't on your shoulders. God is bridging the gap. We may be opening the door (Do you want to meet my dad?), but God is first moving toward our friends and us establishing relationships. We need to pray for our friends that their hearts are open to the movement of the Spirit in their lives.

Time

2008-09-17T05:02:00.000-07:00

"Therefore be attentive to time and the way you spend it. Nothing is more precious. This is evident when you recall that in one tiny moment heaven my be gained or lost. God, the master of time, never gives the future. He gives only the present, moment by moment...You will not be able to excuse yourself at the last judgment saying to God, "You overwhelmed me with the future when I was only capable of living in the present."

In love all things are shared and so if you love Jesus, everything of his is yours. As God he is the creator and dispenser of time; as man he consciously mastered time; as God and man he is he rightful judge of you and your use of time. Bind yourself to Jesus, therefore, in faith and love, so that belonging to him you may share all he has and enter the fellowship of those who love him."

--From The Cloud of Unknowing

The Blessing of Morning Prayer

2008-08-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer. It is confirmed in work. The morning prayer determines the day. Squandered time of which we are ashamed, temptations to which we succomb, weaknesses and lack of courage in work, disorganization and lack of discipline in our thoughts and in our conversations, all have their origin most often in the neglect of morning prayer.

Order and distribution of our time become more firm where they originate in prayer. Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning break through to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men but only in the sight of God. "Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men" (Colossians 3:23). Even mechanical work is done in a more patient way if it arises from the recognition of God and his command. The powers of work take hold, therefore, at the place where we have prayed to God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work.

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer Psalms: The Prayerbook of the Bible

Lost

2008-08-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Did you read the story today about the parents who forgot their three year old daughter at the airport? Here's the link for the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_re_mi_ea/odd_israel_home_alone;_ylt=AoWvxU5d3EinRfEQISovtLus0NUE

The story reminds me that people don't change, only cultures do. A couple thousand years ago there was an Israeli couple who also lost their child. According to Luke,
"Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind...but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends...After three days they found him in the Temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."

Imagine the panic in Mary and Joseph? They've been entrusted by God with the Messiah and they lose him! Do we panic when we lose faith, when God feels distant to us? If not, why?

The kiss of Jesus

2008-07-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a quote about failure. Mother Teresa said that failure is the kiss of Jesus on our lives. They drive us back to God. I like that perspective.